Feeding mechanism.



J. T. WALLACE.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION 1111111) AUG. 5, 1911.

a SHEETS-$112131.

Patented May 21, 1912 J. T.,WALLACE. FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.5.1911.

1,027,018. Patented May 21, 1912.

5 sums-sum z.

J. T. WALLACE.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

ABPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

5 SHEETS-8HEET 3.

J. T. WALLACE. FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED we. a, 1911.

Patented May '21, 191 2 5 BHBETB-SHEET 4.

,jaazibiz (/072/5 7ZZ/QM f F1441,

J. T., WALLACE;

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION nnnn AUG. 5, 1911 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Ten srAr s PATENT @FFICE Joiin'r. WALLACE, or sr. LOUIS, r'ssonm.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

FEEDING MECHANISM.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Application filed August 5, 1911. Serial No. 642,542.

To all whom it may concern:

Be t known that I, JOHN T. lVALLAcn, a citizen f the United States, residing at St.

' Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Feeding Illechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same. I

This in-ventionrelates to feeding mechanisms (if-the type which comprise means for intermittently feeding a long strip to a de- .vice or'devices which act on the strip.

One object of my invention is to provide a feeding mechamsm of simple and. novel construction which will accurately feed a I strip-intermittently or with a. step-by-step movement. I D

Another object is to provide a feeding mechanism which is so constructed that any lost. motion between the cooperating parts of same isautoinatically taken. up, thus insuring an accurate and uniform feed at each cycle of operations.

a which the mechanism cooperates.

Anotherobject is 'to provide a feeding mechanism of the character referred to that. can be'adjusted easily so as to vary the degree of movei'nent imparted to the strip with AXIIC l Still another object is to provide a feeding mech:

.anism that will'feed a strip positively and which is so constructed that the parts of same will not become broken n case move- 'ment of the stri-p or of any of the parts of the mechanism is suddenly arrested.

Other objects and desirable features of my inventi0n will be hereinafter pointed .out.

--I have herein illustrated my invention as being used for feeding a plurality of rods or strips of metal sinniltanecnisly to the dies of a rivet and bolt making inachine, but I do not wish it to be understood that the in vention is limited to this specific use or to I use with rods for'the invention can be used successfully for feeding any kind of a strip whether in the form of a rod or a sheet.

F igure'l of the drawings is a side elevational view of a rivet and bolt making machine provided with a feeding mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; Fi 2fis an enlarged top plan .view 'of' thefeeding mechanism; Fig. 3' is a vertical longitudinal sectional. View taken on up proximately the line 3-4? of Fig. 2; F f is'anendelevational view of the feeding 'i n'echanisrn; Big. 5 is aavie'w similar to F1 3 but withthe parts in a different position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one form of grippingdevice that may be used when the mechanism is used for feeding a sheet or flat strip of material; Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the gripping device on the recipro-' cating carriage; Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line S-8 of Fig, 7; Fi

u u l I b. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-4) of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the gripping device used on-the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 11 is a detail view taken on the line 1l11 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the blocks that forms part of the horizontal plane,'and a separate feeding carriage is provided'for each rod, thereby enabling the different rods to be moved dit? 5 ferent distances. -A common actuating shaft is provided, however, for all of the feeding carriages so that said carriages will move in unison.

A horizontally disposed table G, which I v I I arrangeitl in front of the dies B, is provided with parallel guideways in which carriages Dare reeiprocatingly mounted, as shown in Figs. 2 and -.l.' Said carriages are duplicates of one another, and each carriage is provided with a pivotally mounted gripping device 1 which is adapted to engage the rod A which the carriage cooperates with, and

move said rod toward the dies B on the forward stroke of the carriage or when the carriage moves toward the dies B, said gripping device'l be ng pivotally mounted on'a bracket 2 on the carnage, shown in Figs.

7 and 8. \Vhen the carriage moves in the opposite direction back to starting position the rod A is gripped and held'at rest by means of a holding device 3 which pivotally mounted in a b 'acketfl on the stationary table C,'said holding device 3 and said gripping device lbeing arranged in longitudinal alinement with a groove'5 in the carriage which receives the rod A.

t W trons,

to be fed, 3 orwardly a difierent distance than the other rods. The means which movesithe carriages consists of a rock shaft E .journaled 1n depending brackets 6 on the under side of thetable G andprovided with arms F that engage the carriages D andthus re-i oi rocate them forwardly and backwardly movement being imparted to said fshaft E by means of a cam 7 on the-main .alinement with thestrip or rod which the a of -the carriage.

shaft 8 of' thegrivet and bolt making-machine,

cam, a link 10 piv0tally connected to the lower end of the lever 9 and to a dependingarm 11 on the rockshaft'E and a-coiled compression spring 12 arranged between a collarl13. on the link "10 and a stationary stop 14,-as shown in Fig. 1. s

-The arms Fare' rocked forwardly, or.in' a direction to impart a forward stroke to the carriages toward the dies B, by means 10-1 the ca1n'7,'aln'd are rocked. rearwardly so as tomove the carriages back tbstarting posltion by means of the compression spring 12. under side with a the upperlend. of the "arm- Fengages when that projects upwardly'througha longitudinal slot 17 in" thecarriage and engages an adjustable"s'top 18' on the carriage when the arm is rocked --dii"ection, the lug 15 on theu'nderside'of the carriage being preferably arranged in longitudinal alinement with the groove 5 the carriagewhich'receivesthe rod A so as to cause the power to beapplied to the carriage on the, forward-stroke of same at apoint in.

Thefforwa rdj stroke of" the carriage is alwaysthe same but the-rearward stroke of the carriage may be varied by adjusting the stop 18 with relation {to the depending carriage feeds.-

starts to rock rearwardly. Gonsequently,--

on thesucceedi'ng forward stroke of thecars riage'the'rod A w1th which the carriage cooperatestwill be fed forwardlya distance.

nearly. as great as the length of the'stroke farther away from so 'that its end is located theunder side of the depending lug 15.0n the carriage riage' will not be as greatbecause thearm F will rock rearwardlysome distance before the extension 16 thereon engages the stop 18 or the carriage'themew distance because the carriage w'asi not moved .rearwardly so 7 great "a "distance on its-previous-rearward stroke. i

- great .a

en the shaft E rocks in-opposite direca lever 9 which cooperates with. said adjusted position,

means of a lug '22 upwardly. into as shown in Each carriage D. is provided on is depending lug. 15 which.

aid arm is rocked forwardly, .and each 'arml position, the F is provided with a reduced extension 16 1 direction tends to stoo "that the rod A.

rearw-ardly or in the oppositeholding device 3 on the -cally adjustable'j aw 19.?

' structed lug 15--on the carriage. If the stop 18 is adjusted in the manner shown in 16 "on the arm F engages Ifthe stop 18 is adjusted the. lower part or the rearward strokeof the car and moves thegcarriage rearwardly; 'Cpnsedu'en'tly, on the succeedinglforwardstroke The grippingdevice 1 is rovidedilwi'th a jaw 19 for engagmg the rod A; 'said jawbeing preferably so constructed that it can be adjusted vertically relatively to-the car-j riage In the embodiment of myinvention herein shown, which projects upwardly into a the gripping device 1, and sai socket in .devicefis provided with a setscre'w 21 t at engages" the jaw 19 has a shank 20.

theshank 2O and/thus clamps the jaw 1n the jaw being prevented "from turning relatively to the device l by a' noteh 23 in the device 1,

Whi h surrounds the pivotl on which the gripping l I against said gripping device and again the bracket 2, as the lower :end v the carriage and thus-causesjthe jaw of the gripping device to ard shown in Figs .i7 and 8, prces on the jawwhich projects Fig. 10," A coiled spring 24:

device 1- is 'fulcrumedyand bears 4 grip the rod A tightly'when the car" ia-ge moves forwardly; in the opposite direction jaw 19. slides 24* exertsipressure on said holding device so" as to force the jaw on the lower endof same toward the rod A-and thus securely When the carriage moves backjto starting over theirod A because the movement of the carriage in this force the lower end of the. ingdevice 1 upwardly, it-being under- The holding device its lower end with a vertiand a coiled spring clamp the rod in caseit tends to move rea'rwardly,' said, holding device being so con: that a slight rearward movement of the rod causes the'jaw 19 on said'holding device to clamp thereby causing the rod to .remainf'at rest on the return stroke of the carriage v the rod' firmly against the grooved base 4 of the bracket-4, as shown-in Fig. '3,

during the remainder vof the rearward stroke 4 Each of the carriage-operating arms F is composed; of two pivoted sections or; parts which are normally. held together by means,

of va'sprin g that is strongenough to prevent said sections from moving relativelyto eacl-t other, whenv the arm is feeding the carriage is securely, connected to the rock shaff/E and is provided at its rear side with a pair of ears 26- which embrace :1 lug 27 onthe 'I forwardly A-sshownin Figs. 3', 4 and 5t sectlon 25 of'the' arm lower end of the upper section or part 28 1 of, the arm, a or other suitable fastenie g device 29 passing through the lug 27 and cars 26 so as to p1vota1l connect the two sections of the arm toget ier. Said sections have cooperating portions arranged in front of the ears 26 and lug 2.7 which normally bear upon each other and prevent said sections from moving'relat-ively to each other In one direction, these cooperating portions being so arranged that the upper section 28 can move rearwardlyrelatively to the lower section but not. forwardly relativelyto said lower section. Cousequently,. on the ,rearward stroke of the arm Ffthe' arm is rigid and cannot yield but on the forward stroke of said arm one section of same can 7 move relatlvely to the othersection.

The

' sections 25 and :28 are provided at their or recesses in the aws.

through openings in said blocks,-and a coded front edges with torwardl y projecting jaws 25 and 28 in which blocks 25" and 28 are rockably mounted, said blocks having halfround trunnions 30 whlch fit in curved seats A red 31 passes compress on spring 32 is'arrangedon said 'rod between a head 33 on the lower end of same and the-block 25";carr1'ed by the aws on the lower section 25, a nut 34 being mounted on the upper end of said rod above the block 28 carried by the jaws on the upper section :28 of the arm F. The spring 30 forces the block 25 upwardly against the jaws 25? in -which said block is rockably mounted, and also-draws the block 28 downwardly against the Jaws 28 which carry said block and thus holds the two sections 25 and 28 01. the arm F normally in alinement with each other, as shown in Fig, '3.

On the forward stroke of the arm F'the' front end of the carriage D, with which said arm cooperates, strikes against the base 4. of the bracket 4- with which that particular carriage eotiperates and thus causes said carriage to come to rest before the rock shaft E has completed its movement, thereby cans mg the upper sectrou'QS of the arm F to cometo rest before the lower section 26 of block's rock in their seats and thus permit .position. V p

One advantage in constructing the arms F 1n the manner above-described is that lost.

the arm has completed its forwaril stroke,

as shown in Fig.-

Byjarranging the rod 31 in blocks or bearings whichare rockably n'i'ounte'd in the two sections ofthe arm F prevent the rod frombinding'when said sections move relatively to each, otherin the manner just described because said heating the'rod 31 to remain in practically a vertical motion or wear in'any of" the parts ofthe carriage -.operating' .mechanism or onthe front end of the carriage and the statit'inary member 4? vwhich limits the forward movement of the carriage is automaticallytaken up, owingzto the fact that the spring 32 exerts pressure on the uppersecti0n 28 of the operating parts .arin F after the carriage has come to rest and thus yieldingly, forces the front end of the'carriag'e against sa d stationary member 4. -An'other advantage of such aconstrue tion is that "a sudden stopping of the carriage or. carriages Wlll not cause the carriagefeeding mechanisnrto bec'ome broken owing to' the fact that the parts of the arms which engage the carriages can remain at rest while the other parts of the arms which are se-' cared to the operating shaft can continue in motion. And still another ad mntage is that one or more carriages may be locked and prevented from reciprocating back and forth 4 while the rock shaft E of the feeding mechamsm continues in operat1on,'as hereinafter more clearly described Shoulders 36 at the rear ends of-the slots.

in the table C, throughwhich the u pper' ends of the arms l projcct,'act as stops to lini it the rearward movement of said arms, said; shoulders being so located that the arms F 'willstrike against satire on their rearward does not bear upon the lever which it actuates, thereby causing; thc'sprmg 12 to force the arms F against the stopsl-it and thus take I] p any wear or lost motion bctweensaid stops and said arms or in any of the coof the carriage operating mechanism.

From the foregoing; it will be seen that l have produced a feeding mechanism of simple construction which will feed one or more strips 21 certain distance at each cycle of operations of the machine, and that any wear or lost motion is automatically taken up by reason of the fact that x ieldin'gprcs sure is exertedon the. carriages when they rea ch the. end of their forward stroke and when"theyreach the end of their rearward stroke. the mechanism reduces the liability of its getting out of order, and .as' the mechanism can-'beso adjusted thatzthe'tnirriages moire forwa'rdly different distances themechanism can be used for simultaneously feeding a plurality ofstrips different, distances with a step-by-stepmovement.

In order that the feeding of one. strip maybe discontinued without attectingthc feeding-of the other strips, T have provided means which enables each carriage to be locked independently so that one carriage can remain at rest while the others continue in operation. The means herein-shown for The simplicity of 'constructimi of accomplishing this consists of rock arms 37 .p'ivotally mounted on the lirackets 2 on the carriages and proyided with pawls 38 that cooperate with stationary racks 39 011 the table C. One of'these rock arms 37. is provided for each of the gripping devices 1 to which it is connected by means of a pin 40' v branching laterally from a lug on the upper end of same and passing through an eye 41 on the rearside of the gripping device, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 9, there'- by causing said-gripping device and rock arm to move together., Each rock arm 37 is so -arranged with relation to'the gripping device with which it cooperates that Zthe pawl 38 will be normally held in an operf at-ive position or out of engagement with-its cooperating rack 39, as shown in,'Fig-. 3, thereby preventing it from-interfering with the forward and return. stroke of the-fear riage.

In-caseit is desired to throw ,the

carriage. out of operation the ,operator' moves the upper-end of the gripping-device l rearwa-rdly as shown in Fig. 7, Sosthat a spring-actuated dog 4 mounted (in-said device can spring into', lnotchy43 on the up )feredg'e bfthe bracket 2 and thus lock the gripping'dev'ice 1 in an inoperative posi-' tion and the pawl 38 in an operative posie0 i as shown inFig. 71 If this' adjust-- ment is made when the carriage is at the end of its" forward stroke the carriage'will ifiove rearwardlybecause the teeth of the rack 39 are soformed that. the pawl "will 3'5.;it-ravel over same when the carriage moves ll'l'tlllS direction but said pawl will lock the,

carriage when it 'reachesthe end of its rearthe operator can'throw one or more of the ,feedi ngcarriages' out of r operation at will without disturbingthe 1 operation of the other feeding fcarriagesQ In case the operator desires to throw the entire feeding 5'5 mechanism out of operation without stoping the rivet and" bolt; making machine wit'h which the feeding mechanism is used, he moves a lever 45 which controls a clutchi61that connects the rock arm 11 to the rock ris-previously stated, my invention is not limited to a mechanism forfeeding rods or bars for it could be used equally, well forfeeding flat sheets or strips A by simply, as changing the proportion of the carriage and,

, when the carriage moves P i ms moaiois providing the grippifigand holdingx devices relativelywlde aws 4c7., as s own in Havingthusdescribedjmy invention, what I clai as new-and desirejto secure by Let' ters Patent is:

' 1; A feeding mechanism comprising a re; ciprocating carriag' provided with means for engaging a strip and-feedingit: fork-- w ardlgy when, the-'- carr'ia'ge moves: in one di; rection, means";fer holding""the-stri -,the;car'ria ge moves in the :hpposite" ed mien,- an'fioperating member for said carriage, and

, meansifor causing saidoperating.memhertof ress'ure on said, carriage exert. yieldin .3

5 1e end of its stroke;

when itrea'ches (t EDA feeding mechanism compris ng airej-l ciprocating carriage provided with Jinea-nsj' for engaging a, strip and feeding it forwardly .when the carriage moves inonediv rection, means..for holding the strip when the carriage moves in the opposite direction,.'-

- anf operating member, for]v said carriage,"

means for positively movin said operating member in one direction, yie ding means for moving said member in the opposite direc tion, and independent means :forcausing said operating member 'to exert yielding pressure on said carriage when it reaches the end of its .forwardstroke. I 3. A feeding mechanism comprising ar ciprocating carriage "provide with means for engagin' gm-av strip and feeding it, forwardly when the carriage moves in one'ldirection', means for holding t he strip whe-n' ot the carriage moves in the opposite direction, an operating. member for said carriage which. comprises a plurality of parts, means for positively moving one' ofsaid-parts, and a yielding connection between said parts which causes them to move as one until the carriage reaches the end of its stroke in one direction.

' 4. A feeding mechanism comprisinga re. ciprocating carriage, a device on said carriage arranged to grip a strip and feeditforwardly and an: tomatically release said st-rip, on the return stroke of the carriage, an automatically opcrating device which gripsthe strip on the return stroke of the carriage and releases it on the forward stroke ofthe carriage, a rockarm for actuatingsaid carriage coma plurality of'parts'l er sections that -arepivotally connected together, an operatshaft to which one o f said parts is con- 'nected, and a yielding connection betweensaid parts which causes them togmove as one, until the car'riagereaches the end ofits stroke in one direction. 4. I

5, A feeding mechanismcomprisingaredevice on said-car strip -and feed it ciprocating carriage, a

riage arranged to gripfla v p when the carriageanoves, orwardlyv'and an ,toinatically feleasesaidgerip on the return stroke of the carriage, an automatically operating device which .grips the strip on the return stroke of the carriage and releases it on the forward stroke of the carriage. a rock arm for actuating aid carriage comprising a plnralita of parts or sections that are pivotally connected together. an operating shaft to which one of said parts is connected, cooperating portions on said sections which bear against each other and thus prevent said sections from moving relatively to each other. blocks rockablv mounted in said portions. a rod passing through said blocks. and vielding means cooperating with said rod to hold said sections together.

G. A feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage, a device on said carriage arranged to grip a strip and feed it when the carriage moves forwardly and antomaticallv release said strip on the return stroke of the carriage, an antomaticalhv operating device which grips the strip on the return stroke of the carriage and releases it on the forward stroke ofthe carriage, a rock arm "for actuating said carriage comprising a plurality of parts or sections that are pivotally connected together, an operating shaft to which one of said parts is connected, cooperating jaws on said sections, a block rockably mounted on the upper side of one. of said aws. a block rock-ably mounted on the under side of the other jaw;

a rod passing through said blocks and pro-j vided at its upper end with a stopwhich engages said upper jaw; and a spring; ar ranged on said rod between said lower block and a stop on the lower end of the rod.

7. A feeding mechanism comprising a reeipmeating carriage provided with a device that is arranged to engage a rod and feed it on the forwardstroke of the carriage and automatically release the rod on the return stroke of the carriage, means for holding said rod at rest on the return stroke of the carriage. an operating member having an extension which passes through a slot. in said carriage, a shoulder on said car-t riage which said operating member engages when it moves in one direction. and an adjustable device on the carriage which said operating member engages when it moves in the opposite direction.

8. A feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage provided with means for engaging a rod and feeding it on the forward stroke of the carriage, means for holding said rod at rest on the return stroke of the carriage, an operating member for said carriage, astationary abutmentcooperating with said carriage to limit the forward i'novement of same, a stationary abutment cooperating with said operating meniher for limiting the rearward movement of same. and yii' ding means for causing said carriage to he forced tightly against its cooperating abutment and for causing said operating member-to be forced against its coiiperating abutment.

9. feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage provided with a device that is arranged to grip a strip on the forward stroke of the carriage and automatically release said strip on the return stroke of the carriage, a holding deviccn'ionnted on a stationary niember and arranged to grip said strip onthe return stroke of the carriage and auttmiatically release it on the forward stroke of the carriage, a rock shaft, an arm on said shaft composed of a p1urality of sections pivotally connected together, a yielding connection between said sections arranged to cause said arm' to exert pressure on the carriage after it reaches the end of its forward stroke, and yielding means cooperating with said rock shaft to movesaid arm rearwardly.

10. A feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage provided with a gripping device that is adapted to engage a strip and feed it on the forward strokeof thecarriage, means for holding said strip at rest on the return stroke of the carriage, a rock shaft provided with an arm that actnates said carriage. an operating mecha nism for said rock shaft comprising a cam and a lever which are so arranged that said shaft will be rocked forwardly, yielding means for rocking said shaft. rcarwardly, and means that arrests the rearward movement of said arm at a point in the cycle of 100 operations of the mechanism when said. le-

vcr is out of engagement with said cam.

11. A feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage provided with means holding said strip on the return stroke of the carriage, a primary actuating mecha-- nism for said carriage, and means for permitting the carriage to remain at rest while hes in operation.

12. A feeding mechanism comprlsmg a reciprocating carriage provided with means for feeding a strip forwardly, means for the carriage, a rock shaft provided with an arm that engages said carriage and rec1procates it backwardly and forwardly, said arm consisting of a plurality of yieldmgly ables said carriage to be locked when it reacher the end of its rearward stroke will out discontinuin the operation of said rock shaft.

reciprocating carriage, a table on which said carriage is mounted, a gripping device on said carriage arranged to engage a strip and feed it forwardly on theforward stroke for feeding a strip forwardly, means for said primary actuating mechanism contin- ,110

holding said strip on the return stroke of 11" connected sections, and. means which en- 13. A feeding mechanism comprising a of the carriage and release. said strip on itrmoves in one directio 'vlce on said carriagewhir'h said reek. arm

' rection, said rock arm consisting of two-- strokes of said can said strips on the return strokes of the carthe return stroke of the carriage, a holding device on said table arranged to engage said'strip on the return stroke;,, 'off the carengages when it moves in-"the opposit-ediconnected together, and

sections pivotally d 1101 said yielding means which normally sections together.

'14. A feeding'mechanismcomprising a plurality of reciprocating carriages provided with means for feeding a plurality ,of parallel arranged strips on the forward iages, means for holding riages, means for reciprocating said carriages simultaneously, and'means for en- 1 abling the strokes of said\ carriages in one direction'to be varied, thereby permitting the mechanism to be used; for feeding strips difi'erent distances"at"the= same time.

15, A feeding mechanisin comprising a plurality, of reciprocating carriages provided 'it' 'ithi,n eans for feeding a plurality bf parallel arranged strips on the forward strokes of"said. etarriages, means for holding said strips OIljILQ return strokes of the carriages, imeans for reciprocating said carriages simultaneously, means for enabling the strokes ofsaid carriages in one direction to-be varied, theneby' permitting the mechanism to be'used for feeding strips different distances at the same time, and means for enabling any of said carriages to be locked in an inoperative position without affecting the operation of the other carriages.

In -tstimony whereof I hereunto afiix my thisfirst day ofiAugust 1911; v I 7 Jon N T. WALLACE.

Witnesses:

WELLS L. (21 01103, Grown BAKEWELL.

signature in the presence of twojwitnesses, 

